Chosen Evolution: I can load the protagonist template

Chapter 772 Tearing Off the Bodhisattva's Hypocritical Mask

Seeing so many of his demons killed or wounded, King Linggan could no longer bear it.

Although it wouldn't care how many small monsters of this level died, as the vast Tongtian River could replenish its forces at any time, if it continued to cower in the water palace, what would the sea urchin clan think of it, and what would the water monster clan think of it?
Wouldn't all the reputation I'd built up over nine years around the Tongtian River be completely destroyed?!
"Who are you?! You killed my little demon and disturbed my underwater palace! If you can't give me a straight answer today, I, the Great King Linggan, will smash your head in!!!"

The goldfish spirit, with half its body still submerged in the water, held aloft the nine-petaled red copper hammer, forged from a lotus flower that it had casually stolen from the Bodhisattva's lotus pond when it descended to the mortal realm, and roared fiercely at Cheng Tian in mid-air.

However, it was clear from his words and body language that his fear of Cheng Tian was so obvious that he could hardly keep up the pretense.

"Your water mansion? Isn't this the water mansion you seized from that old turtle? You have no background, but you've got quite the nerve."

Cheng, who had kept his true intentions hidden, did not engage in self-introduction at all, but instead chose to provoke the other party by reopening old wounds.

This is Cheng Tian's consistent practice.

Yes, that's right. From the very beginning, when Cheng Tian constructed the Tai Chi Vortex, his main goal was to drive the Goldfish Demon out of the Tongtian River.

The Erlang Shen template does indeed have default water combat proficiency due to its position as the water god, but due to the characteristics of the underwater environment, many skills and spells simply cannot be used normally there. Water has a unique ability to absorb energy that is unmatched by other substances.

Furthermore, since the goldfish spirit is an aquatic creature, it will definitely benefit from environmental bonuses, so why not try to lure it out and kill it?

As for how to use his prophetic advantage to provoke others, Cheng Tian was extremely good at that.

"...That old turtle actually has such connections?"

Upon hearing Cheng Tian expose his shortcomings, the Great King of Inspiration was first stunned and muttered to himself, then became even more puzzled.

King Linggan knew perfectly well what kind of strength the old turtle possessed. He had seized the other party's water palace, and the other party would surely hold a grudge and wait for an opportunity to strike. But if he had such powerful connections to help him, why did he wait nine years to use them?
It doesn't make much sense no matter how you look at it.

Before the King of Inspiration could even process what was happening, Cheng Tian continued his provocation.

"Hey! What are you thinking about, little goldfish!"

"Grandpa is thinking about how to smash your stinking mouth, which hides its head and tail and doesn't even dare to say its name!"

The King of Inspiration maintained his composure, determined not to easily lose ground in the verbal exchange.

But all he got in return was Cheng Tian's cold snort.

"My identity, if I told you, would scare you to death. It's you, you little goldfish who dares to call yourself king, who is really disgracing the master."

"What!?"

"Isn't that right? Occupying the water palace, threatening villages, and devouring young boys and girls—I really don't know what you goldfish have learned from listening to the sermons beside Guanyin Bodhisattva. It's utterly shameful!"
Or……"

Having exposed the genius of the "King of Inspiration" on the spot, Cheng Tian, ​​while the other party's pupils were in shock, threw out another earth-shattering theory.

"Or is it that the teachings of the compassionate Bodhisattva Guanyin can only guide a beast like you who dares to steal, rob, and even harm living beings in the mortal realm?!"

The outrageous and shocking statement, like a thunderclap, struck the goldfish spirit's head like a bolt of lightning, causing the little goldfish's brain to explode with a buzz!
How could he... how dare he!?

Cheng Tian's outrageous remarks echoed endlessly in the goldfish spirit's mind, causing his already not-so-bright goldfish brain to suddenly exhibit a blankness similar to that of a normal Magikarp.

Almost the instant Cheng Tian finished speaking, an uncontrollable burst of laughter and a gaze containing hidden anger appeared in Cheng Tian's perception at the same time!
In this world where the land nurtures its people and its deities, mentioning a deity's name is generally perceived by the deity, though usually they pay it no heed. But Cheng Tian not only directly mentioned Guanyin's name, but his words were also filled with contempt and criticism of the Bodhisattva's "lax management of her subordinates," so it was unnecessary to elaborate on who was behind that angry gaze.

Even Buddha can get angry.

Needless to say, Erlang Shen's sudden, unrestrained laughter in the Erlang Zhenjun Temple caused the silver-armored heavenly soldiers guarding the temple gate to peek inside, eager to know why the Zhenjun was laughing so loudly.

From Erlang Shen's perspective, the Goldfish Demon was a nobody, not even worthy of his attention. He wasn't even on the Heavenly Court's arrest warrant; he wasn't high enough in status.

But the angle from which Cheng Tianbao was seeking answers was truly fascinating to Erlang Shen.

Using the true experiences of the goldfish spirit after descending to the mortal realm to demonstrate the hypocrisy of those who always preach about the great compassion of Buddha, although it may seem a bit like sophistry, it can still catch the other side off guard.

Ultimately, Cheng Tian didn't tell a single lie; he simply pointed out the goldfish spirit's actions.

Lies don't hurt, the truth is the sharpest knife.
No matter how well Guanyin Bodhisattva's character is portrayed, it cannot cover up the fact that she truly condoned the pet goldfish in her lotus pond to descend to the mortal realm for a full nine years. Cheng Tian was just short of saying outright that Guanyin was an accomplice of the goldfish spirit in killing those eight pairs of boys and girls over the past eight years!

Even in the original work, Guanyin, a master of feigning ignorance, only subdued the goldfish spirit after Sun Wukong personally came to her. She did not sit on the lotus platform or do her hair, and instead concocted a highly targeted fish basket master ball on the spot.

It can be said that Cheng Tian's words, which were so blatantly offensive, made it impossible for Guanyin to pretend she hadn't seen anything.

However, the angry gaze was cast upon her, and the next second Guanyin's brows furrowed.

Because she heard Erlang Shen's laughter echoing throughout the Zhenjun Temple through Cheng Tian, ​​or rather, Erlang Shen made it so that she could hear it!

"This is not good..."

After a quick calculation, Guanyin realized the special nature of Cheng Tian's identity.

My little goldfish is probably in real trouble.

Finally realizing that its master had been relentlessly criticized, the Great King of Inspiration's anger surged to MAX, its head turning redder than ever before. At that moment, Cheng Tian's Heavenly Eye suddenly emitted a crimson beam that struck the fish's head.

Caught off guard and caught red-handed, the King of Inspiration didn't feel any extra pain, but at this moment, he could see no one but Cheng Tian—

Behemoth's bloodline ability, Hatred Lock.

Simply put, for at least the next 90 seconds, the goldfish spirit's hatred for Cheng Tian will remain at its highest level, and she will do everything in her power to attack him.

Cheng Tian's solution to this was...

"You beast! If you have the guts, come along!"

With a twist of his body, Cheng Tian flew away rapidly in the opposite direction of the Tongtian River.

"Where do you think you're going?!"

Faced with Cheng Tian's cowardly retreat, the goldfish spirit, filled with boundless rage, smashed the water's surface with its hammer and chased after Cheng Tian's departing figure with almost all its might.

(End of this chapter)